WATCH: HRT ‘isn’t always the answer’ says cancer support specialist leading Maggie’s Highlands menopause workshop
Maggie’s Highlands has introduced menopause workshops to support and empower women undergoing cancer treatment, addressing a crucial need for tailored care, including individualised hormone replacement therapy (HRT) requirements.
The charity offers free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer, including their family and friends in the Highlands.
While battling cancer is gruelling enough, many women are forced to endure the menopause at the same time. This can either be induced by cancer treatment, or can include women already going through the menopause or women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).
Menopause comes in hand with many physical and mental health implications that can range from osteoporosis and heart disease to cognitive issues like anxiety and depression.
Prescribing hormone replacement therapy to those going through cancer treatment can also be risky depending on the individual.
Because of this, Maggie’s Highlands has pulled together a hormonal health menopause workshop for women needing support while going through cancer and the challenges of menopause.
Cancer support specialists from Maggie’s, Eilidh Wilson and Katrina Statham started hosting the workshops in Inverness to bring women together who might be facing ‘crash menopause’. This term is used because treatment-induced menopause can be more immediate than a natural one, as people experience symptoms suddenly and often all at once, compared to the relatively gradual impact of natural menopause.
Ellidh said: “Day-to-day we have women come into the centre and hear the impact that cancer treatment can have on their lives and often in the mix of that menopausal symptoms can get overlooked.
“It can feel very isolating, but by getting them together in this workshop they know that they aren’t alone and there’s other women going through similar challenges.”
Ellidh went on to discuss the individualised nature of HRT as she said: “It has to be said that some women can have HRT and they reap the benefits of it which is fantastic, but there are women who go on HRT and don’t feel good on it.
“There’s a lot of hype out there and information that can perhaps make women think they need to be on HRT when maybe they might not benefit from it. It’s not always the answer.”
The workshops have also seen involvement from Dr Hame Lata, a registered menopause specialist with the British Menopause Society, and represents the Highlands, which has been ‘hugely beneficial’.
Katrina said: “I think one of the greatest parts of this workshop has been bringing people together so that women don’t feel so alone.”
